Linux will never be the opiate of the masses. This Linux versus M$ nonsense is SELF-INDULGENT HOT AIR and nothing more. Well, I tried to stay quiet. I don't think ANY one os is for everyone. I _DO_ think some people are better off using Mac, Win or whatever yanks their chain. I think Linux is awesome but it's mostly aimed at people WANTING UNIX, but not wanting to PAY Unix $$$. I think the almost religious enthusiasm for Linux is incredible and I respect that enthusiasm. I don't think Linux is at war with M$ though like so many people think. I think it's at war with itself and other Unixes to be the best it can be. The development of Linux really IMHO really has JACK to do with M$, this is mostly just stuff perpetuated by Linux zealouts and people in the media that just need a story so they can sell more magazines. Don't get me wrong--I love Linux and it's my main OS. I just wish people would stop going OVERBOARD, with this 'linux conquers the world and slays that great whale Billionaire Bill' crap. Personally, I don't think M$ is going down because of Linux. Not now, and maybe-no PROBABLY- not ever. The world is big enough for Linux, M$, Macintoys and whatever. What the Linux people need to learn, is that not everybody needs or has to use Linux, and that it doesn't have to overtake M$ to be a success and all this Linux versus M$ is just hot air. Fred, I don't think Linux will be the 'os of the masses' anytime soon, if ever. Not everyone can use a Unix and that's what Linux is. It may become more user friendly with enough gui toys for newbies till it looks like a damn nintendo, but underneath all that you still HAVE TO HAVE A CLUE, and there are too many people that DON'T when it comes to computers. Linux, unlike Windows and the Macintoy, will never have 'full clueless support' which is what you need to feed the 'masses'. This is the REAL reason why it's so 'hard to use'. It's simply because you HAVE TO HAVE A CLUE. That's the reason. Flame away. Bye Now, Michael On Mon, 24 Aug 1998, Fred A. Miller wrote:
Michael Lankton wrote:
Please do not misinterpret this. No one needs to lecture me about advocacy; I am a former op on a linux irc channel, I am prolific on several *nix mailing lists, and I have a web site that is devoted to a *nix windowmanager and resources for same. It's just that I have never understood this mentality about wanting to put linux on every desktop. I think this represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the future of unix as a desktop os. I don't think everyone is capable of administering a unix system. This becomes especially evident when I
[big snip]
I was going to let this go, but couldn't. First, SuSE, Red Hat, etc. are ALL working towards making Linux EASILY installable, easy to administrate, and use! There are those in the Linux community, who have an attitude problem. They're better than those who don't "understand" *NIX. I'm not accusing you of that Mike....just making a statement about many who I know or have read their posts. Linux DESERVES to be THE OS used by the masses, and as it is now, there's a very good chance that it can be. It's the ONLY STABLE OS that could be used by anyone, yet still be the same OS that many have enjoyed mucking around in. NO ONE looses anything, but we ALL gain a LOT more GOOD applications, etc. We ALL have a great deal to gain, and NOTHING to loose. Some will continue to bitch about Linux' notoriety, and don't want everyone to have it.....oh well.
Someone I introduced to Linux recently made a very valid comment about the OS/2 community and the Linux community...in general. The former has always been ready and willing to help anyone. Often the Linux community just tells someone to read the * man page. It's about time we took a long hard look at ourselves. Soap box mode off.
Fred
-- - Windows 98 supports real multitasking - it can boot and crash simultaneously - Fred A. Miller, Systems Administrator Cornell Univ. Press Services fmiller@lightlink.com fm@cupserv.org
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-M One is most dishonest towards one's God; he is not _permitted_ to sin. mail: mjohnson@pop3.aebc.com - To get out of this list, please send email to majordomo@suse.com with this text in its body: unsubscribe suse-linux-e